Paddy Pimblett and Jake Paul have been going back-and-forth through the media of late, following Paddy “the Baddy” making some fight-fixing allegations.
That upset Paul enough (despite having made fight fixing allegations of his own about Eddie Hearn) to challenge Pimblett to a one million dollar sparring session.
In a video posted to his verified social media profiles, Paul made the big-money offer, which included flying Pimblett out to Puerto Rico, despite the British lightweight set to compete at UFC 282 on December 10.
“I’m sick and tired of this narrative. It’s pathetic, it’s stupid, you’re disrespecting the (sic) own GOAT of your own sport,” Paul said in response to Pimblett’s claims. “You’re saying that Anderson Silva is a criminal, you’re saying he’s a fraud. You’re saying that Viacom, one of the biggest media companies in the world, is doing criminal stuff. That’s what you’re saying. It’s stupid and pathetic.”
“I have a proposition for you,” continued Paul. “Since you wouldn’t rig a fight, right? Let’s spar. Fly to Puerto Rico. I’ll get you a private jet. We can do five, 3-minute rounds, boxing. If you win, I’ll give you a million dollars, which is what you deserve to get paid, Paddy. You know it. But the UFC’s not paying you that. You deserve to get paid more.”
“But if I win you have to join the United Fighters Association and help me sign up all of the fighters in the U.K. So let’s spar since you wouldn’t rig a fight. I’ll fly you out, a million for you. Put your money where your mouth is. Let’s go.”
Pimblett has now made a counter-offer, via TMZ.
“I’m under contract by the UFC, and he said this knowing full well that I’m fighting next week,” Pimblett told the outlet. “As if he does not know I’m fighting next week, and he’s like, ‘I’ll fly you to Puerto Rico.’ Come to the PI next week. Come to the PI next week and bring $1 million in a bag, and I will spar with you.”
“I’m in the PI in Vegas on Thursday. I land on Thursday, so even though I’m low on calories, and I’m only about 170, he likes picking on smaller people anyway. But if he wants to wait until after my fight, until the Monday, because I’m still in Vegas until the Tuesday, when I’m about 185, 190 pounds, I’m game. Tell him not to worry. He can come to PI and we’ll get in the cage. Simple as.”
In true Jake Paul fashion, he’s not about to accept even a sparring match on anything but favorable terms, and has since countered with a five-round sparring session in January. In the meantime, Paddy Pimblett returns against Jared Gordon in the co-main event of UFC 282.
